Unhinged! Wild Captain America comic book covers!

The first issue of Captain America famously shows the superhero giving Adolf Hitler a much-deserved sock on the chin.


Art by Jack Kirby

It's a classic, iconic image. But, when the comic first hit the stands back in December 1940, the cover caused a stir. After all, Pearl Harbor was still a year away and the United States was keeping very intentionally to the sidelines as the Nazis rolled through Europe. Cap's creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby even got some threatening mail from isolationists and Nazi sympathizers who said the cover was over the top.

Ha!

If anything, Kirby and his fellow artists upped the ante with all the covers that followed. The earliest issues of the series feature some of the wildest, most manic imagery ever to grace a comic book cover. Each cover was crowded from corner to corner with hyper-exaggerated action and the most devilish Nazis imaginable. On nearly every cover, there's a woman in bondage or peril or both. Oftentimes, Cap's young sidekick, Bucky, is in trouble too.

This is pure propaganda, and Simon and Kirby--both proud Jewish Americans--made no bones about it. Unfortunate stereotypes, particularly of Japanese people, on the covers became more and more extreme as the war progressed. But this was a much different, more fearful time.

I'm taking a less serious take on the covers here, which are presented for their sheer over-the-topness. Enjoy--if that's the right word for it.


Art by Jack Kirby


Art by Jack Kirby


Art by Jack Kirby


Art by Jack Kirby

Art by Al Avison


Art by Al Avison


Art by Syd Shores


Art by Alex Schomburg

Lost season 4: The teasing has begun

ABC is pretty good with the viral marketing campaigns, particularly re: "Lost," which begins its fourth season Jan. 31.

To help get everyone back interested, and mystified by, the show there's a new press release and Web site touting the relaunch of Oceanic Air--the fictional airline that operated flight 815, the plane that crashed on that freaky island we're all wondering and theorizing about.

The Web site starts off as a mock ad for Oceanic featuring pretty flight attendants with Aussie accents, but this is soon interrupted by a bearded guy in a tie. His name is Sam and he says his partner, Sonja, was a flight attendant on flight 815, which--as we know--went missing. Now, he says Oceanic is calling off the search for the plane and will declare all the passengers dead. He says he wants answers.

During this message the address for another Web site flashes across the screen. Here, you can click around until you see "Sam's desk." This is the guy from the video on the previous site and if you click at his computer, phone, etc., you'll get little tidbits of info such as e-mails and videos that tease the show.

Being an old guy, I don't have much patience for such things, so I checked out a few bulletin boards for posts detailing what all sorts of things are revealed on the site. Here's a pretty good overview.

There's a game you can play that's supposed to yield more clues and the site will be updated while we wait for the new season to begin. I'll be scouring the fan boards for anything interesting and will pass it along.

Here's the content of the Oceanic press release:

Flights Begin December 31 To Nine Markets
Oceanic Airlines announced today their return to the airways. Beginning December 31, operations and flights to nine markets will resume, “Taking You Places You Never Imagined.” Destinations include:

Los Angeles, CA
Tustin, CA
Ames, IA
Miami, FL
New York, NY
Portland, OR
Knoxville, TN
Seoul, South Korea
Sydney, Australia

“We are very eager to resume flying and apologize for any inconvenience our temporary closure may have caused our loyal customers,” said Michael Orteig, President, Oceanic Airlines. “Oceanic Airlines is proud to be a top tier flight provider and looks forward to providing travelers with many more years of unparalleled service.”

About Oceanic Airlines
In business for over 25 years, Oceanic Airlines is a major airline carrier and offers the highest caliber of service for international and domestic flights. Destinations include Los Angeles, London, Sydney and South Korea.

Oceanic Airlines Contact:
Georgia Cavanagh (818) 460-5520

Take a look! The ugliest DC Direct action figures of all time--choose your favorites!

I've got lots of records, loads of CDs and far too many comic books. But when it comes to geeked-out collections, I'm pretty light on action figures.

I have a few in the home office and a batch in the rec room. As far as my wife is concerned, that's embarassingly too many. But they're not one of my obsessions.

The figures I have, I picked up because I think they look cool--they're nice represenations of comic book characters I like. I have a batch of Marvel Legends figures, including the big honkin' build-yer-own Galactus. And they're nice. But they're a little too muscley for my tastes.

The figures I admire most are made by DC Direct. I have the Silver Age Batman and Superman series and I really like how faithfully they capture the 1960s incarnations of some of my favorite comics characters. They look good standing atop a couple book cases crammed with DC Archives, Showcase Presents, Marvel Masterworks and Essentials volumes.

When it comes to figures, DC Direct is usually top-notch. But when they manufacture the odd ugly action figure, they go to town.

Here are some examples:

Check out the freaky muscle ripples on "Hush" Superman's forearms. And that face!



And here is, perhaps, the most hideous rendition of the Dynamic Duo ever: The "Dark Victory" Batman and (the particularly nightmarish bighead) Robin.





And here are a couple of really bad Catwomen. The first "Long Halloween" Catwoman is just an ugly sculpt in terms of mask, costume and body while the preposterousness of the "Knightfall" Catwoman is right there jutting in your face.

Catwoman looked silly enough when Jim Balent drew her this way in the comics. But when you translate those images into three absurd dimensions, it gets even more ridiculous.





There are a number of hideous figures in the "Identity Crisis" line but Batman and Black Canary are especially bad.





What is wrong with her face?!!

I'm not a fan of his art, but Ed McGuiness' super-muscley, cartoony depictions of Batman and Superman never really bugged me on paper. They're over-the-top, but at least they have a style of their own.

But when you translate McGuiness' art into plastic, you get entire display racks of ugly. Hideous faces, ridiculous anatomy (look at those thighs!). It's hard to believe that DC Direct has made at least three series of McGuiness figures. And that people buy them. It was hard narrowing things down to just a few examples:









This "Return of Supergirl" figure, based on the art of Michael Turner, stands out as one of the sickliest, disturbing figures DC Direct has released (absurd waistline, creepy expression and eyes).



But, sometimes, you can take great art as a model and still turn out an incredibly--almost absurdly--ugly figure. Witness Superman and, especially, Wonder Woman based on Darwyn Cooke's "New Frontier" mini-series.

Most of the figures in this series look pretty decent (I especially like Green Arrow and Dr. Fate), but the faces on these two are horrendous. What was DC Direct thinking? Cooke's faces are stylized and cartoony in a fun retro way. But the too-squinty Superman and "I don't know what's wrong with her face" Wonder Woman just don't work in plastic:





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What are your picks for ugliest action figure? Let us know in the comments section. Or send me pics and I'll post them here.

DVD collects Tom Snyder Beatles interviews

Shout! Factory has announced the April 1 release (this better not be a friggin' April Fool's joke) release of "The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo."

According to a press release, the 2-DVD collection will include Snyder's extensive 1975 interview with John Lennon, a 1979 interview with Paul and Linda McCartney and Wings members Denny Laine and Laurence Juber and a 1981 chat with Ringo Starr.

Here's the cover art.

Pop links

I hope you all didn't eat too many fudge Daleks over the holidays.



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The great Golden Age Comic Book Stories blog posted this cool, Hannes Bok-illustrated membership club for the Weird Tales Club. Surely not even Groucho Marx could've resisted joining that?



The same blog also has several posts featuring wonderful newspaper editorial illustrations by Winsor McCay.

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Paul McCartney reportedly underwent a hush-hush angioplasty recently. Hope he's doing well.

Vanity Fair posts big feature, pics on new Indiana Jones film

Take a gander at Cate Blanchett as a sexy Soviet secret agent and more over at Vanity Fair's site, which has a five-screen write-up on "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" here.

Lost season 4 episode 1 pictures

Here are promo shots from the fourth season opener of "Lost," airing Jan. 31 on ABC.

Lost season 4 character photos

The new season of "Lost" begins Jan. 31, but these new pics of the series regulars were released this week.

Pop Artifact! Spider-Man Colorforms set

Pop Culture Roundup Nov. 7, 2007

TV Guide sports four "Heroes"-themed covers by different comics artists this week. Here they are:

Jim Lee


Phil Jimenez


Michael Turner


Tim Sale


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Sharity: Old Sherlock Holmes radio shows.

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Variety takes a look at the soundtrack for "I'm Not Here," the odd Bob Dylan bio-pic featuring various different actors and actresses, including Cate Blanchett, playing the Bard.

There's one Dylan outtake on the soundtrack CD, plus covers by various artists, including Sonic Youth, Cat Power, Mason Jennings, Eddie Vedder and Jeff Tweedy.

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Do you look weird? You could be an extra in the new "Star Trek" film!

The invitation to the casting session said: "This is an epic project and we are looking for the most intriguing and interesting faces to integrate in this film."

Some of the facial features the studio is looking for include:

--extremely large heads and foreheads
--wide or close-set eyes
--over or undersized ears and/or nose
--facial deformities
--pronounced cheekbones
--ultra perfect or ultra plain-looking people

"Everyone must be thin, athletic, fit; wardrobe will be form-fitting. All hair lengths on males and females welcome," the casting invitation added.

--------------------------

Cool Toy Review has the skinny on upcoming Marvel Legends action figures from Hasbro. The lineup includes:

--Adam Warlock
--Silver Savage
--Spiral
--U.S. Agent
--Union Jack
--Black Suit Spider-Man

And, this part hasn't been confirmed, Blastaar build-a-figure.

No pics yet.

New comics Nov. 7, 2007

Comics shipping Nov. 7, 2007

DARK HORSE COMICS

AUG078105 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 FINAL VER (PP #786) $2.99
AUG078106 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #2 FINAL VER (PP #786) $2.99
AUG078107 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #3 FINAL VER (PP #786) $2.99
AUG078108 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #4 FINAL VER (PP #786) $2.99
SEP070077 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #8 $2.99
AUG050042 EMILY THE STRANGE #2 $7.95
AUG070127 EMILY THE STRANGE VOL 2 THE FAKE ISSUE #2 $3.50
JUL070018 GROO HELL ON EARTH #1 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL070031 HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070081 LOBSTER JOHNSON THE IRON PROMETHEUS #3 (OF 5) $2.99
JUL060034 STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC TP VOL 01 COMMENCEMENT $18.95
AUG070131 STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #22 $2.99
AUG070132 STAR WARS LEGACY #17 $2.99

DC COMICS

SEP070191 ALL NEW ATOM #17 $2.99
APR070165 BATMAN BATMAN AND SON HC $24.99
SEP070149 COUNTDOWN SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER RED RAIN #1 $2.99
SEP070188 COUNTDOWN SPECIAL JIMMY OLSEN 80 PAGE GIANT $4.99
SEP070142 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 25 $2.99
SEP070265 FREDDY VS JASON VS ASH JASON COVER #1 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG070272 GREEN ARROW ROAD TO JERICHO TP $17.99
AUG070273 GREEN LANTERN CORPS A DARKER SHADE OF GREEN TP $12.99
APR070192 GREEN LANTERN WANTED HAL JORDAN HC $19.99
SEP070165 INFINITY INC #3 $2.99
SEP070201 JONAH HEX #25 $2.99
SEP070228 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #39 $2.25
AUG070324 KIMMIE66 $9.99
AUG070301 KING OF CARDS VOL 2 $9.99
SEP070233 LOONEY TUNES #156 $2.25
SEP070202 METAL MEN #4 (OF 8) $2.99
SEP070166 METAMORPHO YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP070257 MIDNIGHTER #13 $2.99
AUG070303 MUSASHI #9 VOL 13 $9.99
SEP070174 ROBIN #168 (GHUL) $2.99
AUG070278 ROBIN TEENAGE WASTELAND TP $17.99
SEP070175 ROBIN VAR ED #168 (GHUL) $2.99
AUG070304 SEIMADEN VOL 10 $9.99
SEP050243 SHOWCASE PRESENTS JONAH HEX VOL 1 TP $16.99
SEP070189 SUPERGIRL #23 $2.99
SEP070190 SUPERGIRL VAR ED #23 $2.99
SEP070182 SUPERMAN #670 $3.99
SEP070248 TRANQUILITY ARMAGEDDON #1 $2.99
AUG070298 VENUS IN LOVE VOL 1 $9.99
FEB058406 WATCHMEN TP $19.99
SEP070252 WILDSTORM FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT THE AUTHORITY $3.50

IMAGE COMICS

JUN071891 ART OF GREG CAPULLO SC $24.99
SEP071951 FEARLESS #1 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072001 LUCHA LIBRE #2 $5.99
MAY071876 PVP #36 (NOTE PRICE) $3.50
AUG072032 STEVE NILES STRANGE CASES #2 $2.50

MARVEL COMICS

SEP072181 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #1 (OF 6) $2.99
AUG072207 ANNIHILATION CONQUEST STAR LORD #4 (OF 4) $2.99
JUN072192 ASTONISHING X-MEN #23 $2.99
SEP052009 ESSENTIAL SILVER SURFER VOL 1 TP $16.99
AUG072216 FANTASTIC FOUR #551 $2.99
AUG078110 FANTASTIC FOUR #551 ART ADAMS VAR (PP #786) $2.99
SEP072188 FANTASTIC FOUR SILVER SURFER POSTER BOOK $5.99
SEP072195 HOWARD THE DUCK #2 (OF 4) $2.99
AUG072221 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #10 $2.99
AUG078022 IMMORTAL IRON FIST ZOMBIE VAR #10 (PP #784) $2.99
SEP072198 IRON MAN ENTER MANDARIN #3 (OF 6) $2.99
SEP072207 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #33 $2.99
SEP072284 MARVEL LEGACY 1960S TO 1990S HANDBOOK TP $19.99
SEP072208 MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #5 $4.99
SEP072214 MS MARVEL #21 $2.99
JUL072182 MYSTIC ARCANA SISTER GRIMM $2.99
SEP072217 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI #5 (OF 5) $2.99
SEP072279 OMEGA FLIGHT ALPHA TO OMEGA TP $13.99
SEP072219 OMEGA UNKNOWN #2 (OF 10) $2.99
AUG062110 RUNAWAYS VOL 6 PARENTAL GUIDANCE DIGEST TP $7.99
SEP072223 SHANNA SHE-DEVIL SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #4 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072226 SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #1 (OF 4) $2.99
SEP072224 SUPER VILLAIN TEAM UP MODOKS 11 #5 (OF 5) $2.99
AUG072255 THE ORDER #4 CWI $2.99
AUG078142 THOR 1-3 REBIRTH (PP #786) $4.99
SEP072232 UNCANNY X-MEN #492 MC $2.99
SEP072233 UNCANNY X-MEN SILVESTRI VAR #492 MC $2.99
AUG072229 WORLD WAR HULK GAMMA CORPS #4 (OF 4) WWH $2.99

COMICS

AUG073719 A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #69 PI
AUG073383 ARCHIE DIGEST #239 $2.49
AUG073922 ATLANTIS RISING #1 $0.25
JUL073276 BANZAI GIRLS #3 $3.95
AUG073386 BETTY & VERONICA #231 $2.25
JUN073584 DISNEYS DUCKTALES BY MARV WOLFMAN SCROOGES QUEST TP $15.99
AUG073960 DIVISION 18 UNION OF COSTUMED PERFORMERS #1 (OF 3) $2.99
SEP074025 DOROTHY OF OZ VOL 1 GN $11.95
SEP073298 EVERYBODY COSPLAY VOL 1 GN $19.99
MAY073150 GARGOYLES #6 $3.95
AUG073923 GHOSTING #3 $2.99
AUG073558 GI JOE DATA DESK HANDBOOK COLL A-M $5.50
JUL073912 HERC BROWN #1 $2.99
JUN073416 HIGHLANDER #11 $2.99
SEP073379 IRON & THE MAIDEN #4 $3.99
SEP074088 LIVING CORPSE 1/2 #0 PI
SEP073642 MYSTIC FUNNIES #2 (NEW PTG) $4.95
JUL073434 NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #3 $2.99
AUG073397 SONIC X #26 $2.25
AUG074038 STAR PROJECT CHIRO VOL 1 TP $11.95
AUG073911 TALES FROM THE CRYPT #3 $3.95
JUL073448 TERMINATOR 2 INFINITY #4 $3.50
AUG073343 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO REG ED #2 $5.95
AUG073346 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO S&N VIRGIN ED #2 $34.95
AUG073347 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 JUSKO VIRGIN ED #2 $19.95
AUG073345 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 SCOTT B&W ED #2 $19.95
AUG073344 VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY FALL 2007 SCOTT REG ED #2 $5.95

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad